Late Tacoma Rally Falls Short In 8-7 Loss To Fresno

TACOMA, Wash. - The Tacoma Rainiers (29-18) dropped their series finale, 8-7, to the Fresno Grizzlies (20-29) Friday night in front of a sellout crowd at Cheney Stadium.
Rainiers first baseman Daniel Vogelbach (3x5, 2B), right fielder Danny Muno (3x4, R, 2B) and second baseman Zach Shank (3x5, R, RBI) all managed multi-hit games in the losing effort for Tacoma.

Tacoma righty Jean Machi (2-0) made his first start since 2008 Friday night, pitching two perfect innings and adding two strikeouts.
Tacoma ignited a two-out rally in the bottom of the second to take an early lead. Rainiers third baseman D.J. Peterson walked, advanced to second on a fielding error by the Grizzlies and came around to score when Shank blooped a single into shallow left field, giving the Rainiers a 1-0 lead.
The Grizzlies would answer with a two-out rally of their own in the top half of the third, slapping a pair of home runs to take a 3-1 lead.
Rainiers shortstop Tyler Smith countered with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the sixth, bringing the Rainiers within one run at 3-2.
Tony Kemp laced a two-RBI double to center field during the top of the seventh that extended the Grizzlies lead to 5-2.
However, Tacoma would rally in the bottom half of the seventh with three runs on three hits to tie the game at 5-5. Rainiers center fielder Leonys Martin lined an RBI double to the gap in left-center, scoring Shank from second base. With Smith at the plate, Fresno pitcher Ashur Tolliver threw a wild pitch, allowing catcher Steven Baron to score from third and decrease the Tacoma deficit to one. Rainiers left fielder Tyler O'Neill then stepped to the plate and singled to left field, scoring Martin from third and tying the game at five.
Rainiers new addition Andrew Aplin fired a relay to the plate from right field in time to nab Fresno baserunner Colin Moran at the plate, keeping the score knotted at five in the top of the eighth.
Tacoma lefty Nathan Bannister lead the charge for the Rainiers bullpen, tossing five innings and allowing five runs while earning seven strikeouts.
The Grizzlies scored three runs in the top half of the tenth inning off of Tacoma lefty Nick Hagadone, as Colin Moran launched a two-run homer and Jon Kemmer added an RBI double to give Fresno an 8-5 advantage.
The Rainiers fought back in the bottom of the tenth, as Peterson managed an RBI single to left field and Baron grounded into a double play that scored Peterson from third. Martin couldn't push the tying run across from third and the Rainiers fell, 8-7. Hagadone (2-2) was charged with the loss.
The Rainiers begin a nine-day road trip tomorrow night as they head to Utah for a four-game series with the Salt Lake Bees. Right hander Chase De Jong (2-1, 4.70) will take the mound for the Rainiers and the Bees have yet to announce a starter. First pitch is schedules for 5:35 p.m.
All tickets, group outings and suites packages for the 2017 season are available for purchase in person at the Cheney Stadium Box Office, online at www.tacomarainiers.com, or over the phone at (253) 752-7707. The most up-to-date news and notes about the Rainiers throughout the season can be found by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand) or liking the team on Facebook.